PESHAWAR - Pakistan says it has been making sincere efforts for the restoration of peace and stability to neighbouring Afghanistan.
President Dr Arif Alvi, at a meeting with Ambassador-designate to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Islamabad was according priority to its relations with Afghanistan.
Pakistan desired Afghanistan’s economic development and prosperity, he said, adding a stable and peaceful Afghanistan was in the interest of both sides, as well as the entire region.
Alvi stressed the need for promoting bilateral relations asked the ambassador-designate to work for improving ties between the two countries in areas of economy, politics and people-to-people relations.
In a separate meeting with the ambassador, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said peace in Afghanistan was vital for the stability of the region.
He expressed confidence that the appointment of the new ambassador would contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
Mansoor Ahmad Khan, a veteran diplomat, had previously served as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN and other international organisations based in Austria.
He is assuming office at a time when the Afghan peace process has entered a crucial phase. The intra-Afghan dialogue is likely to begin in Doha this week.
In December 2018, Pakistan arranged rare direct talks between Washington and the Taliban, which led to a peace deal in late February 2020. (Pajhwok)